Lasting machine



July 21, 1936. 5. J. FINN LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig." 3.

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LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figr4.

Vi I T- 74 3a f4 Patented July 21, 1936 STATES OFFICE ms'rme mom Application September 24, 1935, Serial No. 41,915

13 Claims.

This invention relates to lasting machines for use in the manufacture of shoes. Primarily an object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in a machine of the character disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,035,468, granted on March 31, 1936 upon an aplication of mine, having means for lasting the sides of a shoe in locations between the toe portion and the shank portion, and the invention is accordingly herein illustrated as applied to such a machine. It is to be understood, however, that in various aspects the invention is not limited to a machine of that particular character nor to a machinefor lasting a shoe in those particular 10- cations.

The machine shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent is provided with means comprising a flexible elastic apron for conforming the upper materials tightly to the contour of the last and for laying the margin of the materials inwardly over an insole into position to be secured to the insole by an adhesive along the sides of the shoe from the toe portion rearwardly substantially as far as the beginning of the shank portion. Objects of the present invention are to afford increased insurance under all conditions that the margin of the insole will lie close against the bottom of the last as the upper materials are laid inwardly over the insole and that the upper materials will be lasted tightly over the edge of the insole. For the purposes in view the invention provides novel means for controlling the insole and the margin of the upper materials, the construction shown comprising for each side of the bottom of the shoe a pair of members arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and movable inwardly over the insole by pressure of the margin of the upper materials against them with a tightening effect upon the materials in the overlaying operation. As illustrated, one of each pair of members is arranged to operate at the ball portion of the shoe, and it may be somewhat forwardly of the ball line, and the other in a location rearwardly of the ball line where the edge of the insole curves inwardly toward the shank portion of the shoe, the two members being movable inwardly over the insole in converging paths extending in substantially perpendicular relation to the portions of the edge of the insole which are respectively opposite the locations of the different members. Accordingly, the member at the rear of the ball line has a component of movement toward the toe end of the shoe as it is moved inwardly over the insole, similarly to means which lays the margin of the upper materials inwardly in that location. It will be evident that as the members press outwardly against the margin of the upper materials in their inward movements they assist the overlaying means in lasting the upper tightly over the edge 5 of the insole while insuring against premature adherence of the upper to the insole; and to in-' crease the tightening effect on the upper each member preferably comprises a roll which by contact of the insole therewith is rotated in a direc- 10 tion to exert a frictional pull on the margin of the inner layer of the upper materials. In accordance with still other features of the invention the different members are arranged to be swung inwardly over the insole about axes sub- 15 stantially parallel to the bottom of the last, are

' controlled by spring means which forces them both toward the bottom of the last and outwardly against the upper materials, and are locked against return movements after they have been 20 moved inwardly over the insole.

The novel features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in right-hand side elevation of the upper portion of a machine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line HI-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. is a plan view of a. portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away, showing certain parts as they appear in the operation of lasting one side of the forepart of a shoe: and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views further illustrating the positions of certain parts at different times in the lasting operation.

Since the present invention, as above stated, is herein illustrated as applied to a machine of the character fully disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent, only such parts of the machine as it is necessary to refer to for an'understanding of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be hereinafter described. The machine is designed particularly for the lasting of the opposite sides of the forepart of a shoe from the toe portion rearwardly to the beginning of the shank portion, the toe and shank portions preferably having been already lasted before the shoe comes to the machine. The machine includes a shoe support Ill (Fig. 1) having thereon to a stem 20 extending upwardly and secured inan opening in an arm 22 which is stationary during the lasting operation, although movable thereafter for a purpose described in the previously mentioned Letters Patent. Between the toe rest [4 and the shoe is a flexible rubber apron 24 extending substantially throughout the length of the forepart of the shoe and supported at its opposite edges on hooks 28 mounted on arms 28 which are freely-rotatable on the reduced upper end portions of rods 30 movable upwardly and downwardly in bearings in a bracket 3|, one of these rods being shown in Fig. 1. After the shoe has" been forced upwardly against the plate It by the shoe support In the rods 80 are moved upwardly by power means, shown in the abovementioned Letters Patent, to stretch the rubber apron 24 and thereby shape the upper materials tightly over the forepart of the last, as illustrated thus acting through the apron comprises, at each side of the shoe, a flexible cable 32 extending along the edge of the shoe bottom at the outer side of the apron and connected at one end to an arm 34 fast on a stud 36 which is mounted to turn in a hand lever 38 and is controlled by a torsion spring 40 (Fig. 1) which tends to hold the arm against a stop pin 42 on the hand lever. Each hand lever 38 is mounted for swinging movements laterally of the shoe on the previously mentioned bracket 3! and also for limited lengthwise movements relatively to a bolt 44 (Fig. 4) which extends through a slot 48 in the'lever and has a head 48 with straight sides extending lengthwise of the lever in a guideway in the latter. The bolt 44 is mounted to turn in the bracket 3| as the lever 38 is swung inwardly toward the shoe by the operator, and when the lever has been swung inwardly far enough to carry its rear end outwardly beyond a lug 50 on the bracket 3| the operator pushes. the lever lengthwise as far as permitted by the bolt 44 and the slot 46 to engage an inner face 52 on the rear end of the lever with the outer face of the lug 50. so that the arm of the lever which carries the cable is locked against reverse outward swingingmovement. One of the levers 38 is thus shown in Fig. 4. When the lever 38 is in this position, the arm 34 to which one end of the cable is connected extends inwardly over the shoe bottom and relatively to which the cable may move lengthwise to avoid undue wear on the apron and to facilitate forcing the apron inwardly over the shoe bottom by the cable. The two cables 32 are crossed beyond the toe end of the shoe and extend downwardly over grooved pulleys 56, and at their lower ends they are connected to treadleoperated means disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent whereby each cable is moved lengthwise to force the apron-24 inwardly and thus to lay the margin of the upper over the insole. As such movement is imparted to the \cable connected to that arm 84 which was carried inwardly by the hand lever 38 as above described, the arm is swung more or less inwardly about its connection with the hand lever against the resistance of thespring 40 in response to the pull of the cable thereon, the arm moving in such a direction that the portion of the cable located along the inwardly curved edge of the shoe bottom at the rear of the ball line has a component of movement toward the toe end of the shoe. At

the same time other portions of the cable are 20 drawn inwardly over the shoe bottom by the pull thereon, the position of one of the cables at the end of this overlaying operation being illustrated in-Flg. 4. As the apron is thus forced inwardly over the shoe bottom it is engaged by a plate 58 which crowds it toward the shoe bottom and thus increases its pressure on the margin of the upper (Fig. 'l) To avoid undue strain on the apron and to facilitate its movement inwardly over the shoe bottom, the arms 28 connected to the apron are lowered as the cable begins to force the apron inwardly under the plate 58, as fully disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent. Such lowering of the arms takes place, for example, immediately after the parts arrive in the positions illustrated in Fig. 6, the upper portions of the apron being shown in their lowered positions in Fig. 7. After the lasting of one side of the shoe in the manner described, the cable and the apron at that side are withdrawn from over the shoe bottom, after which the arms 28 are again raised to stretch the apron and the other side of the shoe is then lasted in the same manner by the other cable acting through the apron at that side of the shoe bottom.

As thus far described the construction and operation of the machine are substantially as disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent. For purposes of this invention the arm 22 is provided with a plurality of depending arms. 60 each of which carries at its lower end a roll 62 arranged to engage and press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and also to engage the inner face of the margin of the upper materials and to press them against the apron 24 in the overlaying operation of the apron.

In the construction shown there are two such arms positioned over each side of the shoe bottom and so arranged that one of the rolls. 82 at each side is locatedat the ball of the shoe, and it may be somewhat nearer the toe end of the shoe than the ball line, while the other roll is located opposite that portion of the edge of the insole which curves inwardly at the rear of. the ball line. Each arm 60 is mounted to swing laterally of the shoe, about an axis substantially parallel to the forepart of the shoe bottom, on a stud 64 carried by a link 66 which is mounted to swing heightwise of the shoe on a stud 68 mounted in the arm 22, the link'extending into a ver-,

tical recess in the arm. Coiled about each stud 64 is a. spring 10 one end of which is seated in an opening in the arm 22 and the other end of which engages a pin 12 on the arm 60. The spring thus tends both to swing the arm 68 in an outward direction toward the edge of the shoe bottom and to swing the link 66 in a downward direction to hold the roll 62 pressed upon the insole. Each arm 60 extends downwardly through a slot 14 in the plate 58, and outward swinging movement of the arm is limited by its engagement with the plate 58 at the outer end of this slot. By reason of the downward pressure of the rolls 62 on the margin of the insole insurance is afforded that the insole will lie close against the bottom of the last in the locations where the margin of the upper materials is laid inwardly over it by the action of the cables 32 on the apron 24. Since the two rolls at each side of the shoe bottom are pressed outwardly against the margin of the upper materials by the springs Ill, as illustrated'in Fig. 6, they not only hold the margin up in the early stages of the overlaying operation so that it will not adhere prematurely to the insole, but also increase the tightening effect of the apron 24 on the upper materials as the apron is forced inwardly over the shoe bottom by either cable 32, the arms 60 being swung inwardly over the shoe bottom against the resistance of the springs 10 by the action of the cable and the apron thereon. As each arm 60 is thus swung inwardly its roll 62 is rotated by contact of the insole therewith in such a direction that the roll exerts a frictional pull on the inner layer of the upper materials in the direction further to tighten the materials over the edge of the insole. The arrangement of the arms 50 and the links 66 is such that the two rolls over each side of the shoe bottom are forced inwardly in converging paths which extend in substantially perpendicular relation to the portions of the edge of the insole located respectively opposite the different rolls, the roll at the rear of the ball line thus having a component of movement toward the toe end of the shoe in its inward movement over the insole.

As the two arms 60 over either side of the shoe bottom are swung inwardly as above described, the rolls 62 thereon are carried to positions over and upon the holddown plate l6, as illustrated at one side of Fig. 7, and to avoid any tendency to disturb the lasted margin of the upper when the apron 24 is withdrawn from over that side of the shoe bottom the arms are locked against outward return movement. For this purpose there is provided for each pair of arms a latch comprising a. bar 16 mounted for upward and downward swinging movements on a rod 18 supported in the arm 22. Associated with each bar 16 is a spring coiled about the rod 18 and tending to swing the bar in a downward direction, its downward and upward movements' being limited by a screw 82 (Fig. 1) threaded in the arm 22 and extending through a slot 84 in the bar. As the arms 60 are swung inwardly as above described, lugs 86 projecting upwardly therefrom are carried to such positions as to permit the bar 16 to be forced downwardly by its spring 80 and to enter notches 88 (Fig. 6) formed in the lugs, so that the arms cannot be swung outwardly again until the bar 16 is lifted. By reference to Fig.2 it will be seen that the forward ends of the two bars 16 are close to each other so that the operator may conveniently lift both of them simultaneously with one hand to release all the arms 60. This is done after a shoe has been clamped against the holddown plate l6, anad preferably after the arms 28 have received their first upward movements to stretch the apron 24, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be evident that after the arms have been released and have been swung outwardly, as shown Fig. 6, the bars 16 are pressed downwardly against the lugs 86 on the arms by the springs 80, so that the rolls 62 are pressed down on the insole by this means as well as by the action of the springs 10.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, and a roll arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and movable inwardly over the insole by the pressure of the upper materials thereon, said roll in its inward movement being rotatable by contact of the insole therewith for applying a pull to the margin of the upper materials by frictional engagement with said materials.

2. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, a roll arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and to engage the inner face of the upper materials, and an arm supporting said roll and mounted for movement about an axis extending in substantially parallel relation to the bottom of the last to permit the roll to be forced inwardly over the insole by pressure of the upper materials thereon.

3. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, a roll arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and movable inwardly over the insole by the pressure of the upper materials thereon, and spring means tending to force said roll toward the bottom of the last and outwardly toward the edge of the insole and against the resistance of which the roll is movable inwardly over the insole.

4. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, an arm arranged to extend generally heightwise of the last and provided with means for pressing the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and for also engaging the inner face of the upper materials,

said arm being mounted for swinging movement inwardly over the insole by the action of the overlaying means thereon, a member supporting said arm and mounted for swinging movement heightwise of the last, and spring means arranged to act on said member and arm to force the arm bodily toward the bottom of the last and also to swing it outwardly toward the edge of the insole.

5. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, a device arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and movable inwardly over the insole by the pressure of the upper materials thereon, a spring against the resistance of which said device is thus movable, and a latch arranged to hold the device against return movement.

6. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, an arm arranged to extend generally heightwise of the last and provided with means for pressing the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and for also engaging the inner face of the upper materials, said arm being mounted for swinging movement inwardiy-over the insole by the action of the overlaying means thereon, a spring against the resistance'of which the arm is thus inwardly movable, and means arranged to act on-said arm to hold'it against return movement.

7. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, a device arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last and movable inwardly over the insole by the pressure of the upper materials thereon, a spring against the resistance of which said device is thus movable, and a member arranged to hold the device against return movement, said member being movable to release the device and permit it to be moved outwardly by said spring after another shoe has been presented for treatment.

8. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last in a location where the edge of the insole curyes inwardly toward the shank portion rearwardly of the ball line, said means having a component of operative movement toward the toe end of the shoe while moving laterally of the shoe, and a device arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last in the above-mentioned location and also to assist by engagement with the inner face of the upper materials in tightening the materials over the last, said device being movable inwardly over the insole by the pressure of the upper materials thereon with a component of movement toward the toe end of the shoe.

9. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over the convexly curved edge of an insole on a last between the toe portion and the shank portion of the shoe, and a plurality of members arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last in different locations along said curved edge of the insole at the same side of the shoe bottom, said members being movable inwardly over the insole in converging paths by the pressure of the upper materials thereon;

10. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over the convexly curved edge of an insole on a last between the toe portion and the shank portion of theshoe, a plurality of arms arranged to extend generally heightwise oi the last and provided with means for pressing the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last in difierent locations along said curved edge of the insole at the same side of the shoe bottom, and means pivotally supporting said arms for swinging movements inwardly over the insole in converging paths by the action of the overlaying means on the arms;

11. In a lasting machine, means for laying the marginal portion of upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last between the toe portion and the shank portion of the shoe, and members arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last respectively in a location rearwardly of the ball line of the shoe and in a location farther forwardly on the shoe, said members being movable inwardly over the insole by the pressure of the upper materials thereon and the member at the rear of the ball line having a component of movement toward the toe end of the shoe relatively to the. other member.

12. In a lasting machine, the combination with a flexible upper-engaging apron, and means arranged to actthrough said apron to lay the marginal portion of the upper materials inwardly over an insole on a last, of a plurality of rolls ar- ,ran'ged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last respectively in difierent locations along the edge of the insole and arranged also to engage the inner face of the upper materials, said rolls being movable inwardly over the insole by pressure of the upper materials thereon and being rotatable by contact of the insole therewith to assist in tightening the upper materials over the last by their frictional action on said materials.

13. In a lasting machine, the combination with a flexible apron for engaging an upper along the side of a last, and means arranged to act through said apron to lay the marginal portion of the upper materials inwardly over an insole on the last, of a plurality of members arranged to press the margin of the insole upon the bottom of the last respectively in different locations along the edge of the insole at the same side of the shoe bottom, and means supporting 'said members independently of each other for movements inwardly over the insole about axes substantially parallel to the shoe bottom by pressure of the upper materials against them.

- SIDNEY J. FINN. 

